Vestments, Chalices, Incense, & other Finery

[jcrichton]

Here is another way of looking at it.

The church had the authority of bishops who celebrated mass even in the first century.

The business of making the sacraments symbolic and removing vestments and other items from church was a modern invention of Zwingli during the reformation (16th century). Some later reformers followed suit.

Tradition does not support your friend.

Additionally, in Galatians 3, Paul indicates that Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified before their eyes. And no, he is not admonishing them for it. The admonishment relates to their legalism despite Christ’s sacrifice.

The OT also shows God commanding the making of images at certain times.

Hi, Matt!

…not just images… cherubs!

These cherubs are to accompany the most Sacred thing that the Hebrews possessed: the Ark of the Covenant, that place where God would Come to Dwell among Israel… so even before God’s first visit the cherubs are there!

…Sacramental adornment is not the same as graven image!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[JohnR77]

I have an acquaintance who is appalled that the Catholic Church has chalices, monstrances, the Pope’s tiara, candelabra(?), etc., in its worship and churches. She says that Jesus never had any of these things, so how does His Church, which she does not believe the Catholic Church is, justify having all of this.
I saw in some previous research that God directed the Israelites to make vestments for Aaron. Are there Biblical passages which “justify” having all these ornate items where we worship God.
I really appreciate any help giving her an answer to what I essentially consider an objection to what I’ve accepted and been comfortable with in my 60+ years of being a Catholic.

Exodus 28:4-21
“And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. 5And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
…
17And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. 18And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 19And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 20And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. 21And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.”
The Holy Bible : King James Version.

The chalice is gold. Is Jesus worth anything less ?